Rudd out as Reds take on leaders
FC United travel to league leaders Skelmersdale United on Tuesday night knowing that they need a win to keep the fate of the UniBond Division One North title in their own hands but they must do it without talismanic striker Stuart Rudd.
Rudd injured his troublesome knee in a supermarket car park at the weekend and is set to miss out on the trip to his old club but manager Karl Marginson is confident that he can still play a vital role in the title run-in. Margy said: "He stepped forwarded on to a raised bit of the pavement and his knee locked.
"I’ve done it before and I know from experience that once it has settled down you can recover quite quickly. We’ll know more later on but hopefully he should be back in action within a week or so."??
Josh Howard will also be absent due to fracturing a toe in the match against Woodley Sports on Easter Monday but the winger is determined to be back fit by next week. Meanwhile, Nicky Platt should be available for the trip to Wakefield on Saturday after undergoing a double hernia operation.
Margy is confident that he has the squad to cope with the injuries and he believes that if United play their game they will be able to avenge the 3-1 defeat that they suffered at the Ashley Stadium in October. He said: "Last time a lot of our players were not performing, it’s as simple as that. So tonight they have to turn up and perform. We saw at Gigg Lane that if we get amongst them we can beat them.
Margy added: "It’s massively important to keep the unbeaten run going. We’ve got five away games in a row now and if we can start that run with a positive result tonight against the league leaders it will be a huge boost."??
And despite dropping two points at home on Saturday courtesy of a freak last minute equaliser against Lancaster City, the boss is still upbeat about the position that United find themselves in. He said: "If your fate is in your own hands that is all you can ask for. We know it is a tough position to be in but we’ll be looking to win every game as we always do."??
Rudd injured his troublesome knee in a supermarket car park at the weekend and is set to miss out on the trip to his old club but manager Karl Marginson is confident that he can still play a vital role in the title run-in. Margy said: "He stepped forwarded on to a raised bit of the pavement and his knee locked.
"I’ve done it before and I know from experience that once it has settled down you can recover quite quickly. We’ll know more later on but hopefully he should be back in action within a week or so."??
Josh Howard will also be absent due to fracturing a toe in the match against Woodley Sports on Easter Monday but the winger is determined to be back fit by next week. Meanwhile, Nicky Platt should be available for the trip to Wakefield on Saturday after undergoing a double hernia operation.
Margy is confident that he has the squad to cope with the injuries and he believes that if United play their game they will be able to avenge the 3-1 defeat that they suffered at the Ashley Stadium in October. He said: "Last time a lot of our players were not performing, it’s as simple as that. So tonight they have to turn up and perform. We saw at Gigg Lane that if we get amongst them we can beat them.
Margy added: "It’s massively important to keep the unbeaten run going. We’ve got five away games in a row now and if we can start that run with a positive result tonight against the league leaders it will be a huge boost."??
And despite dropping two points at home on Saturday courtesy of a freak last minute equaliser against Lancaster City, the boss is still upbeat about the position that United find themselves in. He said: "If your fate is in your own hands that is all you can ask for. We know it is a tough position to be in but we’ll be looking to win every game as we always do."??
First Posted ~ 12:08 Tue 1 Apr 2008
News ID ~ 1584
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021